Closure for receptacles.



UNITED STATES Patented June .23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLOSMURE FOR RECEPTACLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 731,793, dated June 23, 1903.

Application filed October 15,1902.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, JULIUS A. LANDSBER- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closures for Receptacles, of which the following is a specificawith sheet-metal cover 3 tion.

My invention relates to closures for receptacles such as jars and cans, and more particularly to a clamp for holding a cover upon such a receptacle, either temporarily, as during the operation of the vacuum processof exhausting the receptacle, permanentlyafter the vacuum process has been completed, or-

originally and permanently where the vacuum process is not employed.

The device can be applied to glass jars with glass covers or to glass jars and sheetmetal covers; and it consists of a metallic spring-clamp of'peculiar construction and peculiar holding qualities, bothas anew article of manufacture in itself and in combin ation with a receptacle and cover, to which it is especially adapted.

Embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a glass jar and provided with my improved clamp. Fig. 2 shows another form of jar and cover held together by the same clamp. Fig. 3 is a separate view of the clamp. Fig. 4 shows a clamp with curved arms instead. of obtuse angular arms. 1 Fig. V 5 shows a clamp with straight cross-bar bent toform continuations and hooks according to my invention. Fig. different form of jar. In Fig. 1 the jar l-is provided with a projecting flange 2,which at the top formsa ledge 3, so that a gasket at maybe compressed between such ledge and the cover. The lower side of this flange forms a shoulder 5. The cover in Fig. 1 is supposed to be of sheet metal and is stamped or pressed with a top 6 shows a slightlypanel or flat depression bounded by a circular bead 6, and is also formed with a double flange or rim 7 8, separated by a fiat seat 9, which when the cover is in place comes opposite and above the ledge 3. he double flange fits outside the upper or final rim of the jar Serial No. 127,388. (No model.)

though this is not specially illustrated, the.

cover, whether of glass or metal, can be formed without the depressed panel at the top, since the holding qualities of the clamp to be described do not depend upon such a depres sion in the cover.

The clamp is composed of spring metal and is of peculiar shape. In reality there aretwo clamps, and although they are formed as a matter of convenience in one piece, with a connecting bar or strip 12,snch strip performs no clamping function. The shape of the clamp is well illustrated in Fig. 3. Each end of the bar is bent downward to form the ob tuse angle 13 and the end is bent inwardly and preferably somewhat upward ly,as shown at 14c. The obtuse angle 13 might, however, be a curve, Fig. 4, as will be apparent when the operation is described. In no case, however, can the fall of the clamp fromthe upper edge of the cover be a straight line, a curve or an angle being necessary for the purposes to be hereinafter described. Generally the connecting-bar 12 has an angle 15 and is rounded at 16 to pass over the edge, as shown. This angle is not essential, but with beaded covers it forms a point of contact between the clamp and the top of the cover, the rounded portion 16 enabling the clamps to clear such beads, the angle 15 coming inside and bearing at about the junction of the bead and the main flat part of the cover. Tith covers not beaded this raised portion can be omitted, Fig. 5. When the clamp is being placed in position, the advantage of the external obtuse angle or equivalent curve will at once be apparent. As the cover is to be held very tightly and as a gasket is ordinarily used, the fitting is so close in order to obtainthe positive spring-clamp action that a clamp which is straight outside the cover can only with the greatest'difflculty be placed in posit-ion by hand, because it fits closely against the outside of the jar and cover. When my clamp,

IOU

Y clamp.

flexed or curved outside the jar,is to be placed in position, there is enough yield at the angle or curve to respond to pressure, and hence the hooked end can be forced under the lower corner of the flange by pressure upon such angle, Fig. 6. After the engagement the rigidity is the same as that of a straight-turned hen the clamp is in place, the connecting-bar 12 need not fit the cover nor even be in contact therewith. In fact, the cover might be concave and the bar 12 straight or even convex. As a part of the actual clamp the function of the bar 12 is only a means of connecting the two clamps and enabling them to be applied at the same time. The clamps remain permanently in position unless forcibly removed, which can be done by prying out one end with any suitable implement.

My invention provides a clamp for holding the covers on receptacles which will be economical to construct and easy to operate and will also exert an exceedingly powerful pressure. The clamp is formed of stiff spring .metal bent so as to form a plain cross-bar with extensions in obtuse angular or equiva lent curved form, which not only permit the clamp to adjust itself to any irregularities in the shape of the glass, but also furnishes the means for easily springing or snapping the clamp into place. gular or curved extensions gives great power to the clamp without impairing their inherent advantages, hereinbefore fully set forth.

It will be noticed that my invention includes,in effect, two bow-shaped clampin devices at the opposite sides of the cover, which are connected by a cross-bar. These bowshaped portions have their lower ends engaging the receptacle and at their upper ends or where they join the cross-bar they engage The bow-shaped portions included the cover.

the receptacle,

The short extent of the an in some of the forms show elevated portions to pass over the bead of the cover.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clamp for covers of receptacles comprising abar, hooks to engage a portion of the receptacle and bow-shaped connections between the said hooks and the ends of the bar, substantially as described. I 2. A clamp for covers of receptacles comprising a bar having at its ends outwardlybowed continuations which engage above an d below respectively the cover and a part of substantially as described.

3. A clamp for covers of receptacles comprising a bar having at its ends outwardl 'bowed continuations having hooks at their extremities engaging a part of the receptacle, substantially as described.

4. A clamp for covers of receptacles comprising a bar having a clamping portion at each end, each clamping portion or member comprising a hook to engage a part of the receptacle, a portion to engage the cover and an intermediate outwardlybowed portion, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a receptacle having a projection, a cover 1 nd a clamp comprising a bar having outwardly-bowed-shaped portions at its ends ending in hooks, the upper ends of the bowed parts pressing on the cover, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 4th day of October. 1902.

JULIUS A. LANDSBERGER.

Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, F. M. BURT. 

